FBLA sponsor Maria Bicknell reports that at the 2012 Future Business Leaders of America Regional Conference, Pueblo students came home with gold, silver, and bronze medals!
Ludwing Nunez: 1st place in Management Information Systems
Andrea Bakos: 2nd place in Management Information Systems
Carlos Meraz: 3rd place in Job Interview
Great job, Warriors!
The personalities of brothers Lauro and Raul Soto couldn’t be more different. Lauro is quiet and reserved. Raul loves to talk and joke around.
One thing they do share, however, is their love of volleyball.
Their dedication to the game is a big reason why Pueblo is 8-3 and sitting in the top five of the Division I power rankings. The Warriors opened the season on a seven-game winning streak, giving the entire team hope that they could make a run at a state championship this year.
“It’s a good goal for them,” said Dan Chan, who has been Pueblo’s coach since 1997. “Any time a team has a goal like that to shoot for, it jells the group.”
As the team continues to push toward its goal, Lauro, a senior captain and outside hitter who leads his team in kills, knows he has to set the pace for his team.
Raul, a sophomore libero, takes a more verbal approach. He’s the one who keeps everyone loose during games.
Here are three ways the Soto brothers have taken their games to the next level.
Family time
Before Lauro was pushing Raul to work harder and get better, it was Lauro being pushed by the oldest Soto brother, Armando. He graduated from Pueblo in 2009.
Lauro got his first taste of Pueblo volleyball by watching Armando play. Practicing with his older brother gave Lauro the foundation he needed and some ideas about how to guide Raul when the time came.
Now any family gathering can turn into a game when the Soto brothers are around. Throw in their cousin Fidencio Armenta, who also played at Pueblo and graduated in 2008, and the competition level can get sky-high.
“We like to keep things competitive,” said Lauro, who had a 17-kill performance against Palo Verde and a double-double (12 kills and 10 digs) against Sahuaro. “Sometimes when we play with our family, we’ll start talking smack to each other. Raul talks more than I do but I try to get him back.”
Vertical gains
During the offseason Lauro wanted to work on his vertical leap. After looking on the Internet, he found Jumpsoles, a platform that weighs nearly 5 pounds and attaches to the shoe. It is used in training to focus on the calf muscles in order to add inches to an athlete’s vertical.
The Soto brothers added the Jumpsole workouts to their offseason regimen and saw results.
“Before I could barely touch the rim,” Lauro said of a 10-foot basketball hoop. “But now I can grab it and hang on it. And it’s helped with my power too. I feel like my striking has gotten better because I have more power in my legs.”
YouTubing the basics
When they’re not working out or practicing, the Sotos are watching videos on how to improve their game on the site that can teach a person just about anything: YouTube. Whether it’s videos about how to improve their techniques or different strategies, Lauro and Raul have found YouTube to be a helpful tool.
“We’ll look up videos on the basics and some of the more advanced things too,” said Raul, the team leader in digs. “We get a lot of good workout ideas and tips on how to improve our games just by watching YouTube.”
Read more. (azstarnet.com)
Pueblo’s Biotechnology Program was featured on National Science Teacher Association’s website.
Here’s the excerpt:
Another awardee also has introduced innovations to the classroom. Andrew Lettes, a science teacher at Pueblo Magnet High School in Tucson, Arizona, received the Ron Mardigian Memorial Biotechnology Explorer Award, sponsored by Bio-Rad Laboratories, and says he has “worked for over 10 years to bring biotechnology into the classroom.” He points out that “students must be engaged with relevant ‘hands-on’ curriculum, but the trick is to find the ‘hook’ for our student population…At Pueblo, I found the ‘hook,’ biotechnology.” He says his school’s biotechnology program “provides college preparation for our students, plus provides genuine work-based learning. Students work in science, not simply read about it during a career search on the internet.”
According to Lettes, biotechnology “not only attracts the already college-bound students, but also those who are interested in work experience. Students who have mastered the content and students who have mastered the technical skills are equally valued in my classroom. This fosters a cooperative atmosphere where all students try to do well. Truly biotechnology is the rising tide that lifts all boats.” His award also provides funding to attend NSTA’s national conference. When asked about his agenda in Indianapolis, he replies, “I plan on enjoying the workshops given by my peers. Classroom teachers have a wonderful insight on what works. I also would like to network with other educators.”
Congratulations Dr. Andrew Lettes! You represent Pueblo with Pride!
On Saturday, February 4th, 2012 the Regional SkillsUSA Fire Competition met at the Rural Metro Fire Training Center here in Tucson. The 40 participants from the region were from the west and east campuses of the JTED Fire Program including 6 from Pueblo’s Fire Program.
The competition included the following events: ropes & knot tying, hose rolling, breathing apparatus timed competition, climbing a ladder with tools in hand and a victim drag with a 200 lb. dummy.
The day culminated with a Fire Fighter Combat Challenge that mixed Pueblo students with JTED students and a very delicious barbeque.
We are very ecstatic to announce that our team made Pueblo proud. Out of the top 10 scores, we had 4 of our 6 participants in the following places:
Manuel Cedre & Hector Ortega made a great showing and just missed being in the Top 10.
Congratulations to the Pueblo Fire Science Program! They showed up at the competition with one thing on their minds and that was to put Pueblo Fire on the map. They did it in a big way!
Thank you Chief Jeff Smith for sharing.
Pueblo held it’s first annual Mr. Pueblo Warrior Pageant on January 27, 2012. Each contestant had to participate in the following events: Strike the Pose Dance Routine, Swim Suit Cat Walk, Talent Show, Ritzy With A Gift & Question & Answer.
This years constestants were:
Congratulations to Edgar Toledo for winning the crown of Mr. Pueblo Warrior 2012!
View Entire Photo Gallery: Mr. Pueblo Warrior Pageant 2012
View Videos Of Show: Mr. Pueblo Warrior Pageant 2012 YouTube Channel
Escorts: Elisa Velasquez, Karime Hernandez, Briana Sanchez, Dalia Gracia, Monica Velderrain, Jocelyn Canchola, Clarissa Barrientos, Ana Islas, Kimberly Martinez & Melissa Martinez.
The judges included: Mrs. Anne Abbott-Gee, Mr. Nathanial Adams, Ms. Wilma Amaro, Mr. Lorenzo Chavez, Mr. Ned Gray & Mr. Eleazar Ortiz.
Video of contestants:
Prom Committee announced the theme for this year’s Prom: Moulin Rouge
Thank you to everyone that made this such a successful event. Don’t miss next year’s event!
Two of our Pueblo students, Erick Gutierrez and Andrea Bakos, who serve on the Metropolitan Education Committee’s Youth Advisory Council (YAC) met with Tucson’s new mayor Jonathan Rothschild.
The goals of the YAC are to provide youth/student input on policies and programs designed to improve the quality of education throughout Pima County and to engage in activities which foster both leadership, citizenship and the best educational opportunities for all Tucson youth.